As-salamu alaykum - Germany and France agree to build 'Odin's eye' satellite warning system
As-salamu alaykum - quick round-up, insha'Allah useful.
Germany and France signed an agreement to build a satellite-based early-warning system called "Odin's eye" that aims to boost the ability to spot missile launches from space. The deal was signed by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin.
Mr Pistorius also said Germany will put about €10 billion into military drones over the next years to help protect European and NATO airspace because of a growing threat from Russia. He welcomed a drone-defence plan presented by Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte and pointed to recent incursions near countries like Poland and Estonia. "Germany will, of course, make a visible contribution here as well," he said.
Pistorius said the drone purchases will cover "all types and altitudes" and include both defensive and attack craft - the idea is to make sure the many individual measures fit together like cogwheels. He added Germany is ready to lead a joint EU air-defence shield, one of several flagship defence projects Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to present.
Separately, Berlin said it has agreed to negotiate with Turkey about potential Eurofighter deliveries after Airbus made a preliminary request. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is due to travel to Ankara to discuss the matter.
In Brussels, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth urged Nato allies to step up purchases of US weapons for Ukraine after a report showed military support for Kyiv dipped in July and August. Finland and Sweden said they will buy more US weapons to send to Ukraine - Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson said this is critical because support has been heading the wrong way and needs to rise.
Belgium, after investigating several drones over a military base, plans to get more anti-drone and detection systems as soon as possible, Defence Minister Theo Francken said. He added Belgium and the Netherlands will sign an agreement on missile defence systems.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen first called for a "drone wall" to counter Moscow last month, after Nato jets shot down Russian unmanned aircraft in Poland. The idea has been widened into the "European Drone Defence Initiative," which Brussels wants to start working by the end of 2026 and be fully functional by the end of 2027, insha'Allah. The project was initially aimed at bolstering the EU's eastern border states but has been broadened and could also help address issues like illegal migration. It's part of a road map to prepare the bloc for a possible attack by Moscow by 2030.
Other briefs:
- Football: Newcastle 1 (Carroll 82') - Leicester City 2 (Maddison 55', Tielemans 72'). Man of the match: James Maddison.
- A short note on the Nobel Prize: it was created by Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- Lebanese author Elias Khoury: "I feel that we are beyond despair."
- France organised a delegation of big businesses to visit Syria; the group was led by CMA CGM which signed a 30-year deal to develop Latakia port. Also present were Suez, Thales and Ellipse Group looking at hospital rehabilitation.
- A mix of culture and society notes: UAE coins and notes; films like Capernaum, Cold War, Never Look Away, Roma, Shoplifters; pieces on young people feeling pressure from social media; the hidden struggle of cancer patients; and various editorials on science, vaccines, the environment and water management.
May Allah keep communities safe and guide leaders to just decisions. I'm no expert, just sharing what I found - may it be useful.
https://www.thenationalnews.co